Ten-criteria taxonomy for evaluating SEL frameworks: five conceptual-clarity and five implementation-support criteria¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 3 claims (3 for) · 1 study (1 theoretical), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 3 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The Assessment Work Group's frameworks brief defines a two-part taxonomy for judging SEL frameworks. The conceptual-clarity set covers specificity, balance, developmental lens, cultural sensitivity, and empirical grounding; the implementation-support set covers intended for practice, resources for practitioners, resources for use with and by children and youth, resources for measurement and data use, and empirically tested. The brief states: "It defines 10 criteria for describing and selecting SEL frameworks for use in practice, from conceptual clarity to the availability of implementation supports." The criteria are meant to be applied to a whole framework, not to each competency, and no framework is expected to meet all of them fully.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Criteria are applied to a whole SEL framework rather than to each specific competency

Constraints¶

• No framework will meet all criteria fully, and there is no one ideal set of scores related to the criteria

Target Learners¶

• preschool to high school students

Target Learning Objectives¶

• intra- and inter-personal social and emotional competencies

Claims¶

• Balanced SEL frameworks cover intrapersonal, interpersonal, and cognitive competencies and mix skills, knowledge, and attitudes [+W]
• Fewer than 18% of 136 examined SEL frameworks explicitly reference culture and diversity [+W]
• Only 6% of 136 examined SEL frameworks explicitly deal with development [+W]

Related Theories¶

• SEL frameworks as organizing tools distinct from the competencies they structure

Examples¶

• Criteria prioritization tool for SEL framework selection
• Use the ten criteria in three ways: describe needs, evaluate candidate frameworks, and review frequently used frameworks systematically

Key Sources¶

• Blyth, D.A.; Borowski, T.; Farrington, C.A.; Kyllonen, P.; Weissberg, R.P. (2019). Ten Criteria for Describing and Selecting SEL Frameworks. Establishing Practical Social-Emotional Competence Assessments Work Group, Frameworks Briefs introductory series 3 of 3. https://consortium.uchicago.edu/publications/ten-criteria-for-describing-and-selecting-SEL-frameworks